It certainly was somewhat terrible when we came out into the street thronged with people carrying lanterns and torches, and tried to make our way step by step.  We had not gone far before a big man, a butcher I should think, held up a torch to the window, and seeing my son’s long fair hair, shouted, ’The King! the King!  Here is the Queen carrying the King and the Duke of Anjou!’

The whole mob seemed to surge round us, shrieking, screaming, and yelling; some trying to turn the horses, others insisting that we should alight.  No one heard my assurances that we were no such personages, that this was Mademoiselle’s carriage, and that the Queen was gone long ago; and, what was more fortunate, their ears did not catch young Mericour’s denunciations of them as vile canaille.  A market woman mounted on the step, and perceiving the mattress, screeched out, ’The Cardinal—­they are carrying off the Cardinal rolled up in a mattress!’

Their fury was redoubled.  I began to unite it to show them there was nothing, but we had drawn the knots too tight, and Gaspard’s little sword would not of course cut, nay, the gleam of it only added to the general fury.  I really think if the Cardinal had been there they would have torn him to pieces.  They were trying to drag open the doors, and would have done so much sooner but for the crowds who were pushed against them and kept them shut.  At last there seemed to be some one among them with a more authoritative tone.  The pressure on the door lessened, and it was to my dismay torn open; but at that moment my son called out, ’M.  Darpent!  Oh, M. Darpent, come to my mother!’ Immediately M. Clement Darpent, unarmed and in his usual dress, with only a little came in his hand, made his way forward.  Before I saw him I heard his welcome voice calling, ’Madame de Bellaise here!  I am coming, M. le Marquis!  The Queen!  Betise!  I tell you it is a lady of my acquaintance.’

’The Cardinal!  She is carrying off the Italian rolled up in a mattress!  Down with the fox!’ came another terrible outcry; but by this time M. Darpent had been hustled up to the door, and put himself between us and the throng.  He could hear me now when I told him it was merely Mademoiselle’s bedding which we were carrying out to her.  He shouted out this intelligence, and it made a lull; but one horrid fellow in a fur cap sneered, ’We know better than that, Monsieur!  Away with traitors!  And those who would smuggle them away!’

‘Oh! show it to them!’ I cried; and then I saw a face that I had known in the hospital, and called him by name.  ’Jean Marie, my good friend, have you your knife to cut these cords and show there is nothing inside?’

The man’s honest face lighted up.  ’Hein!  The good tall lady who brought me bouillons!  I warrant there is no harm in her, brothers!  She’s a good Frondeuse, and has nothing to do with foreign traitors.’

He ranged himself beside Clement Darpent, offering a big knife, wherewith in a moment the bands were cut and the mattress help up to view, with a few clothes inside.